Re: [Elecraft] KX-1 80M Question
On 3/16/2015 11:10 AM, Phil Hystad wrote: I have a KX1 with 80/30 and I very rarely use it. In fact, I probably could have done just fine without ever having an 80 meter capability with the KX1. I have 20-30-40 and would never use 80 with the KX1. I really can't imagine getting 3W with a compromise antenna any farther than the road, maybe 700 ft out front of our place. As for antennas, consider getting a Buddipole or Buddistick. I have the Buddistick and have used it successfully but never on 80 meters. I had a BP for quite awhile. It's a good antenna, but basically has two configurations despite the photos and diagrams in the literature: Horizontal and Vertical. Horizontal, it's an OCF loaded dipole and except for 12 and 10, is too low at any achievable height. I tried an extension mast made from copper water pipe, but with the stock tripod, it became top heavy and blew over in the lightest of winds. I had my best results as a center-ish loaded vertical ground plane. I ultimately got three of the 9' telescoping whips, used one for the radiator and two for two drooping radials. Didn't need loading on 10 and 12 meters. Unfortunately, on SOTA summits, verticals tend to radiate downslope. I tuned it with an MFJ-259. Setup and tuning took quite a while [~30-45 min] and band QSY took maybe 30 min. It was fairly heavy, about 17 lbs. I finally sold it and bought an Alexloop. It, and a very lightweight tripod weighs less than 3 lbs, it sets up in 5 min, and works amazingly well. It is insensitive to ground, I sit under it so I can reach up to the knob. Tuning is a little touchy on 40, better on 30, and fine on 20 and up. Tuned magnetic loops are resonant transformers. Bypass the ATU and tune the loop to 1:1. If you get it close and then run the ATU, you'll have a fairly good, non-radiating dummy load. Usual disclaimer, other than writing checks, I have no financial interest in Buddi-anything or or Alexloop. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 50th Running of the Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2015 - www.cqp.org __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KX-1 80M Question
Jay, The tuning range of the KXAT1 will b limited on 80 meters, so your antenna configuration will be more critical - I recommend an 80 meter antenna that is close to resonance. An end fed antenna suspended from a tree or a hotel balcony is not likely to do the job on 80 meters simply because it will have to be too long for practical purposes in those situations (135 feet). If you are happy with your 40, 30, 20 KX1 and do not have any pressing needs to add 80 meters, I would not change it. OTOH, if you are backpacking in the US Southwest areas and want to have a source of emergency communications (due to propagation conditions), 80 meters may be the only logical choice - just check out the antenna situation before embarking on your trip. 73, Don W3FPR On 3/16/2015 1:03 PM, J wrote: I'm considering replacing the 30M module in my KX-1 with a 30/80M module, and had a few questions first: What chances of contacts with 4 watts on 80M. using a typical end-fed antenna suspended from a tree or hotel balcony? (Seems like higher bands are easier at QRP) My KX-1 has the KXAT-1 ATU. Will the KXAT-1 also attempt a match on 80M? Has anyone had success with ONE antenna and counterpoise length that will load properly on 80/40/30/20 using the KX-1/KXAT-1? (I'm thinking a length which avoids High-Z on these bands) 73, Jay W6CJ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to w3...@embarqmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] KX-1 80M Question
Apart from the issue about whether 80M is used, the construction of the KXB3080 is a bit tricky. The new LPF1 will lead to lower power output of the radio. I mentioned this in this mail listing in the past and put it in my review in : http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/3586 73 Johnny VR2XMC 寄件人︰ Phil Wheeler w...@socal.rr.com 收件人︰ elecraft@mailman.qth.net 傳送日期︰ 2015年03月17日 (週二) 3:18 AM 主題︰ Re: [Elecraft] KX-1 80M Question Jay, I agree with Phil (the other Phil below!). My first KX1, built in 2003 or 2004, had 20/30/40. My current one has all four bands. 80 m has never seemed a great QRP band for me, mainly due to the antenna issues. The KXAT1 *will* tune 80 m; there may be a mod you do to it while adding the 3080 module to make that feasible, not sure but the 3080 module instructions should tell you. Another plus of adding 3080 is in receiving 80 m and other non-ham frequencies, if you use the KX1 that way. Personally, if you have a KX1 with the original 30 meter module added I see no great benefit in adding the 3080 option in place of the 30 m module -- unless you have special interest in operating 80 meters. 73, Phil W7OX __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KX-1 80M Question
I have a KX1 with 80/30 and I very rarely use it. In fact, I probably could have done just fine without ever having an 80 meter capability with the KX1. Primarily, I use the KX1 in portable QRP operations and in that scenario, 80 meters is harder to do because of the need for a better antenna then I typically put up. But, 30 and 20 meters are quite viable for QRP work with the KX1. I have used my 80 meter capability for only one kind of contact and that is a couple of times I would QNI into a CW net with QRP power. But, that was sort of just to use the newer 80 meter capability installed on my KX1. Today, I have done that using my KX3 so the KX1 80 meter capability will likely be unused from now on even though I have only had 80 meters on the KX1 since last year. If you have no great need for 80 meters such as joining some kind of scheduled net, I strongly suggest that you forget 80 meters for the KX1 especially when operating portable and definitely if you are operating from a hotel balcony. As for antennas, consider getting a Buddipole or Buddistick. I have the Buddistick and have used it successfully but never on 80 meters. 73, phil, K7PEH On Mar 16, 2015, at 10:03 AM, J tsc...@gmail.com wrote: I'm considering replacing the 30M module in my KX-1 with a 30/80M module, and had a few questions first: What chances of contacts with 4 watts on 80M. using a typical end-fed antenna suspended from a tree or hotel balcony? (Seems like higher bands are easier at QRP) My KX-1 has the KXAT-1 ATU. Will the KXAT-1 also attempt a match on 80M? Has anyone had success with ONE antenna and counterpoise length that will load properly on 80/40/30/20 using the KX-1/KXAT-1? (I'm thinking a length which avoids High-Z on these bands) 73, Jay W6CJ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to phys...@mac.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] KX-1 80M Question
I'm considering replacing the 30M module in my KX-1 with a 30/80M module, and had a few questions first: What chances of contacts with 4 watts on 80M. using a typical end-fed antenna suspended from a tree or hotel balcony? (Seems like higher bands are easier at QRP) My KX-1 has the KXAT-1 ATU. Will the KXAT-1 also attempt a match on 80M? Has anyone had success with ONE antenna and counterpoise length that will load properly on 80/40/30/20 using the KX-1/KXAT-1? (I'm thinking a length which avoids High-Z on these bands) 73, Jay W6CJ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KX-1 80M Question
I have had 80-20 on my KX1 for several years of operating portable. These were in HI, ON, VE9 and SOTA using a long wire, counter poise and builtin tuner. A truly great rig, however I doubt I have made more than a half dozen Q's on 80. If I were to do it again I would not install 80. 72, Bob KIØG On Mar 16, 2015, at 12:03 PM, J tsc...@gmail.com wrote: I'm considering replacing the 30M __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KX-1 80M Question
I rarely work 80m BUT late at night in the woods I often tune up and down 80 for my listening enjoyment. Ken - ke4rg snip Subject: [Elecraft] KX-1 80M Question I'm considering replacing the 30M module in my KX-1 with a 30/80M module, and had a few questions first: What chances of contacts with 4 watts on 80M. using a typical end-fed antenna suspended from a tree or hotel balcony? (Seems like higher bands are easier at QRP) My KX-1 has the KXAT-1 ATU. Will the KXAT-1 also attempt a match on 80M? Has anyone had success with ONE antenna and counterpoise length that will load properly on 80/40/30/20 using the KX-1/KXAT-1? (I'm thinking a length which avoids High-Z on these bands) 73, Jay W6CJ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to ktalb...@gamewood.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KX-1 80M Question
An excellent reason to have 80 in a KX3, and you can listen to sideband as well as CW. Phil W7OX On 3/16/15 1:40 PM, Kenneth Talbott wrote: I rarely work 80m BUT late at night in the woods I often tune up and down 80 for my listening enjoyment. Ken - ke4rg snip Subject: [Elecraft] KX-1 80M Question I'm considering replacing the 30M module in my KX-1 with a 30/80M module, and had a few questions first: What chances of contacts with 4 watts on 80M. using a typical end-fed antenna suspended from a tree or hotel balcony? (Seems like higher bands are easier at QRP) My KX-1 has the KXAT-1 ATU. Will the KXAT-1 also attempt a match on 80M? Has anyone had success with ONE antenna and counterpoise length that will load properly on 80/40/30/20 using the KX-1/KXAT-1? (I'm thinking a length which avoids High-Z on these bands) 73, Jay W6CJ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KX-1 80M Question
Ross, I live up in the northwest (Seattle area) and I think there is an 8-lane freeway between the Northwest states (Washington, Idaho, Montana at least) and Alaska. I have had great signal reports with QRP power (on 20 meters) into KL land and some of those with portable antenna (one on a Buddistick). I am working on my own WAS/KX3 barefoot CW only and I don't have Virginia yet. If I don't get a VA contact in the next several months I might hunt you down for a schedule :-). 73, phil, K7PEH On Mar 16, 2015, at 12:32 PM, Ross Primrose n...@n4rp.com wrote: Working portable from MT I worked a KL and a bunch of east coast stations one evening on 80m SSB with 5W into a horizontal end-fed half-wave at about 20'. I'm sure it wasn't armchair copy for any of them, but it's definitely doable. From my home QTH in VA, I've completed WAS on 80m SSB with 5W, but that was with a combination of a 160m horizontal loop at 35' and a full-sized 80m wire vertical over 56 75' radials. YMMV ;) 73, Ross N4RP On 3/16/2015 1:03 PM, J wrote: I'm considering replacing the 30M module in my KX-1 with a 30/80M module, and had a few questions first: What chances of contacts with 4 watts on 80M. using a typical end-fed antenna suspended from a tree or hotel balcony? (Seems like higher bands are easier at QRP) My KX-1 has the KXAT-1 ATU. Will the KXAT-1 also attempt a match on 80M? Has anyone had success with ONE antenna and counterpoise length that will load properly on 80/40/30/20 using the KX-1/KXAT-1? (I'm thinking a length which avoids High-Z on these bands) 73, Jay W6CJ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to n...@n4rp.com -- FCC Section 97.313(a) “At all times, an amateur station must use the minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired communications.” __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to phys...@mac.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KX-1 80M Question
Jay, I agree with Phil (the other Phil below!). My first KX1, built in 2003 or 2004, had 20/30/40. My current one has all four bands. 80 m has never seemed a great QRP band for me, mainly due to the antenna issues. The KXAT1 *will* tune 80 m; there may be a mod you do to it while adding the 3080 module to make that feasible, not sure but the 3080 module instructions should tell you. Another plus of adding 3080 is in receiving 80 m and other non-ham frequencies, if you use the KX1 that way. Personally, if you have a KX1 with the original 30 meter module added I see no great benefit in adding the 3080 option in place of the 30 m module -- unless you have special interest in operating 80 meters. 73, Phil W7OX On 3/16/15 11:10 AM, Phil Hystad wrote: I have a KX1 with 80/30 and I very rarely use it. In fact, I probably could have done just fine without ever having an 80 meter capability with the KX1. Primarily, I use the KX1 in portable QRP operations and in that scenario, 80 meters is harder to do because of the need for a better antenna then I typically put up. But, 30 and 20 meters are quite viable for QRP work with the KX1. I have used my 80 meter capability for only one kind of contact and that is a couple of times I would QNI into a CW net with QRP power. But, that was sort of just to use the newer 80 meter capability installed on my KX1. Today, I have done that using my KX3 so the KX1 80 meter capability will likely be unused from now on even though I have only had 80 meters on the KX1 since last year. If you have no great need for 80 meters such as joining some kind of scheduled net, I strongly suggest that you forget 80 meters for the KX1 especially when operating portable and definitely if you are operating from a hotel balcony. As for antennas, consider getting a Buddipole or Buddistick. I have the Buddistick and have used it successfully but never on 80 meters. 73, phil, K7PEH On Mar 16, 2015, at 10:03 AM, J tsc...@gmail.com wrote: I'm considering replacing the 30M module in my KX-1 with a 30/80M module, and had a few questions first: What chances of contacts with 4 watts on 80M. using a typical end-fed antenna suspended from a tree or hotel balcony? (Seems like higher bands are easier at QRP) My KX-1 has the KXAT-1 ATU. Will the KXAT-1 also attempt a match on 80M? Has anyone had success with ONE antenna and counterpoise length that will load properly on 80/40/30/20 using the KX-1/KXAT-1? (I'm thinking a length which avoids High-Z on these bands) 73, Jay W6CJ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KX-1 80M Question
Working portable from MT I worked a KL and a bunch of east coast stations one evening on 80m SSB with 5W into a horizontal end-fed half-wave at about 20'. I'm sure it wasn't armchair copy for any of them, but it's definitely doable. From my home QTH in VA, I've completed WAS on 80m SSB with 5W, but that was with a combination of a 160m horizontal loop at 35' and a full-sized 80m wire vertical over 56 75' radials. YMMV ;) 73, Ross N4RP On 3/16/2015 1:03 PM, J wrote: I'm considering replacing the 30M module in my KX-1 with a 30/80M module, and had a few questions first: What chances of contacts with 4 watts on 80M. using a typical end-fed antenna suspended from a tree or hotel balcony? (Seems like higher bands are easier at QRP) My KX-1 has the KXAT-1 ATU. Will the KXAT-1 also attempt a match on 80M? Has anyone had success with ONE antenna and counterpoise length that will load properly on 80/40/30/20 using the KX-1/KXAT-1? (I'm thinking a length which avoids High-Z on these bands) 73, Jay W6CJ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to n...@n4rp.com -- FCC Section 97.313(a) “At all times, an amateur station must use the minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired communications.” __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
